Electrically-governed key-operated mechanism.



I. T. AND B. G. AUSTIN ELECTRICALLY GOVEENED KEY OPERATED MECHANISM.

A?PL!CATION FILED JAN. 11, \919.

1,303,626. Patented May 13, 1919.

"l IM 5 $527 4 ZK QZ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. AUSTIN AND BASIL G. AUSTIN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO AUSTIN ORGAN COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ELECTRICALLY-GOVERNED KEY-OPERATE]: MECHANISM.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application filed January 11, 1919. Serial No. 270,644.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, JOHN T. AUs'rIN and BASIL Gr. AUsT'IN, citizens of the United States, residing at Hartford, .in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Governed Key-Open, ated Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to electrically-governed key-operated mechanism such for instance as is used in organ actions for coupling. The invention is, however, not restricted in this particular field of use in a pipe organ. Among the objects of the invention are the provision of a structure which is positive and certain in action. There are in use appliances of this character which possess certain objections, one being that the action of dust and dirt upon the same seriously affects their proper functioning. Another objection to existing structures is the fact that the material of which certain of the parts are made, is afiected seriously by atmospheric conditions. \Ve

provide an arrangement by which these difliculties are eliminated.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification we have '80 shown indetail a form of embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the art to practise the same will be set forth fully in the following description. We are not necemarily restricted to this disclosure; 85 we may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by the claims followin said description.

Referring to sai drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of mechanism involving theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the elevation of an upfrom one end of which rises the cross-piece 3, these parts being generally made of wood.

nal plates.

The base or bed 2 supports on the upper side thereof'the uprights or wall members'l of which there may be any convenient number. These uprights or wall members 4 are generally made of wood, are spaced apart as shown, and extend from side to side of the base or bed 2. As shown their upper ends are a. short distance above the upper surface of the cross-piece 3.

Certain of these uprights or wall members iconstitute a convenient means for carrying plates as 5. As illustrated alternate uprights or wall members sustain the plates. The latter are shown as fitted closely in kerfs as 6 in the upper edges of their supporting wall members. Obviously the plates 5 may be made of any desirable material, sheet brass serving our purpose in this respect. \Vhile under ordinary circumstances the fit of the plates or strips 5 in their kerfs would maintain them in proper position against movement, we prefer not to rely upon this but to provide a more ositive means for the purpose, the pin or loo er 7 being shown for this purpose. Said pin or locker extends through perforations in the upper portion of all the uprights or wall members 4 and in addition extends through registering perforations in the butt portions of the respective plates or strips 5. The pin 7 in addition to acting as a locker also constitutes an electrical conductor as will be hereinafter explained.

The plates 5 also support conductors as 8 which are usually made of wire and the ends of which extend outward beyond the termi- Said conductors or wires 8 in the present case are mounted for rocking movement or oscillation. Each plate 5 as shown has a row of spaced T slots 9. The journal portions of the respective conductors or wires S'are supported for turning movement, in the lower or shank portions of the respective T slots. The slots of the plates are disposed in rows or groups. These wires8 are held down in the respective shank portions of the T slots in some convenient way as by strips 10 usually of some nonconducting material as wood. Each of the conductors or wires 8 has crank portions 11 between the respective plates 5.

The forward ends of the wires 8 are supported by spaced brackets 12 and 13 suitably fastened to a plate 14 in turn properly attached to the upper side of the cross-piece- 3, screws being generally provided to, thus mount these parts. As shown the forward hooks 15 to which are connected the upper ends of coiled springs 16 connected at their that shown in Letters Patent, No. 1,113,861

lower ends to pins as 17 which extend outwardly from the cross-piece 3. The springs function to maintain the wires 8 and hence the cranks 11 in their off positions as shown for example by the three lower wires in Fig. 1. V6 will hereinafter describe a way for effecting the movement of these wires to secure adesired result;

The base or bed 2 as shown supports con .tacts as 18. The upper ends-of these con tacts are adapted to be engaged by the crank portions 11 ofthe wires 8 whenthe latter are turned from their normal positions: From the groups of contacts 18" there ex tenc'l'wires as 19', 2'0; 21 ,22and 23- connected respectively to the appropriate terminalsof solenoids as 24, 2'5, 2'6, 27 and 28. The inner terminals of the solenoids are connected by a wire 29-t0 one pole of a gener aFtOras the battery 30'',- the o't'her pole being'as shown,- com'iected by a wire as 31 with the conductor or pin 7.

It will be supposed that av wire or co r ductor as 8 is rocked from itsop'en to its circuit-closing position. The two wires on the-left and the one on the right in Fig. 3 are shown asoccupying' their normal positions, the other two being illustrated in their shifted or circuit closing positions. lVhenthe-two wires are thus shifted their cranks" 11- engage the upper resilient ends of contacts 18' and thus cause several of the solenoids to be energized. henthe solenoicls are thus energized they attract their arm atures 32 to eflect coupling. Usually" of course it will be clear that wherr the'cir cuits are closed'inthe manner noted, the cur-- .rent flowsthrough several plates 5 by way of the pin or locker 7.

The-plate let constitutes-a suitablesupport for electromagnets 33'' of which theremay be any convenient number there'- being' a magnet for each conductor or-wire 8'; The magnets are supported'as shown by the plate '14: which "is perforated -to' receive the branches of the respective magnets wh ich' as shown are of horseshoe-type. The arms tu-res for the magnets are designated by and" arerigid with outer ends ofthe' conducto'rs or wires 8. I' have not deemed it necessary to show all the connections" by which the electric magnets are energized, theinvention not concerning'thi'spoint. The connections however, are partly iifustfited and include a supply wires 35 which eX-. tends between an'drestsagainst the butt'poi tions of sides of arms as, 36 and 37 of con- .r speetive eitrtmagnts;

ducting material and wired as at 88 to the Generally speaking the stitctuiepresented herein is of the samegeneral character as for organs on October 13, 1914.

What we claim-is 1. The combination of a series of spaced uprights, plates supported by the respective uprights and each having a-se'ries of slots, c'rai rl'ced el'en1ents':-of conducting material; eX- tendin'g tl-irou-gh' and turning-intheslots' of the-respective plates; and non-conducting stripsin the slots,:ho1dingdown the" respectiveeranked elements;

2 The" combination ofa series of spaceduprights having kerfs, plates set in said kerfs each having a. series of slots, cranked elements of conductii'ig material extending through and turning in the-slots of the res ectiv plates; and non-conducting strips-in the sl0ts,'l1'oldin'g down the respective elements. I

3. The combinationof a serie'slof spaced upr-ightsdm-ving kerfs', plates set in' said kerfs'and each havinga series*of slots,- rods of conducting material extendingthrough the uprights and" the plates to hold the plates inthe; l'ze'rfs ,;cra' nked eleinen'ts of conducting material} extending t liroiigli'the-slots of the respective plates;and non-conductingstrips inthe slots, holding downthe respective elements.

The combination of series of spaced plates each having a series" of sl0ts,'cranked' elements extending through" and turning in the slots of the respective plates, and non'-' sci-fleeting strips in the slots; holding down the respective" cranked e'lemen'tsr 5."T11e combination ofa series of spaced pia es each having a series of T-slot-s',' cra kedelements of conducting material ex tending through and? turning in the shank portions of the respective slots"; and non-con tures, the armatures of the magnets being eccentrical-ly condifctors:

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures i-n the-presence of-two-witnesses. 1

JOHN AUSTIN} "BASH? Gr. AUSTIN. Witnesses T. MAY" Norms, HEATH sUTHERLAi-N'Di" connected with the respective copies this patent may: be" aminesfor'fl vecents each;- by mareisihe its commissioner -ofream,

' wa'shington'g nl-c. 

